NWTF Florida Pledges $110,000 to Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests. for 2024

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Florida NWTF State Chapter recently allocated $110,000 to critical wild turkey conservation efforts in 2024. After the reviewing and ranking process of numerous projects across the state, the NWTF Florida board of directors approved and budgeted $100,000 for 21 wild turkey habitat projects and $10,000 for Osceola wild turkey research.

“NWTF staff and partners are thankful for all the hardworking volunteers that generate these funds to accomplish our mission in Florida,” said Ricky Lackey, NWTF district biologist for Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The volunteers and partners that we have in the Sunshine State are passionate and dedicated to our mission, and the funds allocated for the Florida Wild Turkey Cost-share Program in 2024 will have an impact on public lands statewide.”

The Wild Turkey Cost Share Program is a decades-long collaborative effort between the Florida NWTF State Chapter, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Forest Service. Since the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program began in 1994, it has contributed over $6 million to habitat management projects.  

The Florida NWTF State Chapter’s $100,000 investment in the program in 2024 will be matched with $1,646,740 in partner funds for the approved 21 projects, representing a 16:1 match rate for NWTF project funding in Florida.

What’s more, over 70,000 acres of habitat improvement is expected to contribute to the NWTF’s new Habitat for the Hatch initiative.

Launched earlier this year, the NWTF’s Habitat for the Hatch Initiative is laser-focused on creating essential nesting habitat in close proximity to quality brood range. This new initiative seeks to create 1 million acres that fit these specific criteria in the next 10 years.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has conserved or enhanced over 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale.

2023 is the NWTF’s 50th anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50th anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF’s people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals.